15. The Italians shot down their own Commander in Chief in North Africa
Internationally renowned aviation pioneer Italo Balbo served as an important member of Italy’s Fascist Party in the 1920s and 1930s. In Rome, Balbo rose to such prominence that Mussolini appointed him Governor-General of Libya, in order to get his potential rival out of the capital. Balbo opposed the Nazi-German “Pact of Steel” and argued against Mussolini’s vocal support of Germany following the invasion of Poland. He prepared Italian military positions across North Africa, secretly moving troops along the Egyptian border even as the Anglo-Italian Agreement of 1938 eased diplomatic tensions between the two countries. He also moved to modernize the Italian Air Force, though restricted budgets and Mussolini’s preference for the Regia Marina thwarted his plans.
On June 10, 1940, Italy entered World War II by declaring war on France. Balbo became Commander-in-Chief of Italian North Africa. Balbo planned to launch the Italian invasion of Egypt in mid-July. In late June he embarked on a tour of forward bases, flying to Tobruk, then held by the Italians. Earlier the same day, British aircraft bombed and strafed the airfield. Italian gunners remained at their anti-aircraft positions. Among them was the Italian navy cruiser, San Giorgio. As Balbo’s aircraft, in which he rode as a passenger, approached the airfield, the Italians opened up, mistaking it for another British attack. The aircraft crashed in flames, all aboard died in the incident. Later, conspiracy theories arose that claimed Mussolini ordered Balbo’s assassination, though those have been thoroughly discarded as false.
